Merck & Co., Inc. To Close 16 Facilities As Part Of Schering-Plough Corporation Integration; Plan to Reduce Workforce by 15% or 15,000

NEW YORK July 8 (Reuters) - Merck & Co (MRK.N) announced plans on Thursday to close eight research sites and eight manufacturing sites as it restructures in the wake of its merger with rival drugmaker Schering-Plough Corp.